The Perfect Suitor (Bewildering Love Series) Read Online Free PDF
Author: L. A. Hilden
guests.
“She’s strange,” Lydia stated quietly as they descended the few steps to the ballroom.
“We say eccentric, my sweet sister, not strange,” Paxton corrected her with a laugh. “Look who’s coming our way.”
Lydia didn’t have time to react as her cousin threw herself in her arms. “How are you, love? It’s been ages. You look beautiful as always.”
Lydia was finally released from the enthusiastic embrace. “I’m fine. I have been enjoying the Season. That is, when I can get Paxton to leave his work to take me somewhere.”
Rebecca turned to offer Paxton her gloved hand. “Still working too hard then, cousin? Well, if you don’t feel up to it, Lydia is always welcome to join William and me.” Rebecca turned to her husband who had come up behind her. The Duke of Arlington smiled as he put his arm around his wife.
“Of course, Lady Lydia, you are always welcome to join us. Perhaps then I might be able to miss a few of these functions myself and allow you two ladies to make the rounds.”
Paxton was sure Lydia appreciated their kindness and would accept their offer, but he also knew that their cousin drove Lydia crazy trying to play matchmaker. Paxton had the impression that, once a lady was married, she wanted everyone else to immediately follow suit. Regardless, Lydia had always managed their cousin quite well. The bizarre part about Rebecca’s marriage was not that she was happy and wanted everyone to be the same, but that she and the duke were complete opposites. He was always so calm and introverted, whereas she was always so talkative and energetic. Definitely a case of opposites attracting, but these two seemed to complement each other.
“I think I would like to dance, Pax. What say you?” Lydia grabbed his arm and pulled him to the dance floor.
“Why the sudden need to dance?” He spun her around on the floor.
“I felt like everyone was watching us. I hate that.”
Paxton agreed with his sister. Paxton knew how nervous Lydia became when she first arrived at these events, but he had felt the gaze of many upon them too. High society watched everyone closely, always looking for something to gossip about, anything that might cause the room to buzz. Part of the fun, he guessed. But in truth Paxton hated the close scrutiny at these occasions even more than his sister.
Lydia looked at him sideways, and asked, “Who do you want to walk through the door?”
“This lady I met.” Paxton’s mind was elsewhere as he recalled the night at the theater. He searched the entry for a glimpse of her. Looking back at his sister, he realized he had spoken without thinking.
“And who, pray tell, is this lady and where did you meet her?” He knew his sister’s interest was piqued. Their dance ended and they moved out of the dancing area and back to Rebecca who was conversing with a group of young debutantes.
“I think I’ll excuse myself for a bit,” Paxton said in lieu of answering his sister’s question and quickly bowed to the women huddled together. “Ladies.” As he retreated, he heard a chorus of giggles and whispers. He headed into the game room, stopping to converse with many acquaintances along the way. He found the gentleman he was looking for at the whist table. “Well, if it isn’t Lord Geary.” Paxton slapped his friend on the back. “Are the cards being good to you tonight, Cole?”
Cole stood. “Deal me out,” he told the dealer, then scooped up his winnings and left the table. “The cards are like the ladies, Paxton. They are always good to me. I am surprised you showed up here. Did you bring your sister?”
“Yes. I told you I had to make up for last night somehow.”
Two ladies walked by and Cole bowed graciously. “I’ll take the one on the left.”
“You never quit. And you can have both of those ladies. I’m not interested.” They made their way out into the ballroom area and he surveyed the guests quickly. Where is she?
“Is something amiss? You
“She’s strange,” Lydia stated quietly as they descended the few steps to the ballroom.
“We say eccentric, my sweet sister, not strange,” Paxton corrected her with a laugh. “Look who’s coming our way.”
Lydia didn’t have time to react as her cousin threw herself in her arms. “How are you, love? It’s been ages. You look beautiful as always.”
Lydia was finally released from the enthusiastic embrace. “I’m fine. I have been enjoying the Season. That is, when I can get Paxton to leave his work to take me somewhere.”
Rebecca turned to offer Paxton her gloved hand. “Still working too hard then, cousin? Well, if you don’t feel up to it, Lydia is always welcome to join William and me.” Rebecca turned to her husband who had come up behind her. The Duke of Arlington smiled as he put his arm around his wife.
“Of course, Lady Lydia, you are always welcome to join us. Perhaps then I might be able to miss a few of these functions myself and allow you two ladies to make the rounds.”
Paxton was sure Lydia appreciated their kindness and would accept their offer, but he also knew that their cousin drove Lydia crazy trying to play matchmaker. Paxton had the impression that, once a lady was married, she wanted everyone else to immediately follow suit. Regardless, Lydia had always managed their cousin quite well. The bizarre part about Rebecca’s marriage was not that she was happy and wanted everyone to be the same, but that she and the duke were complete opposites. He was always so calm and introverted, whereas she was always so talkative and energetic. Definitely a case of opposites attracting, but these two seemed to complement each other.
“I think I would like to dance, Pax. What say you?” Lydia grabbed his arm and pulled him to the dance floor.
“Why the sudden need to dance?” He spun her around on the floor.
“I felt like everyone was watching us. I hate that.”
Paxton agreed with his sister. Paxton knew how nervous Lydia became when she first arrived at these events, but he had felt the gaze of many upon them too. High society watched everyone closely, always looking for something to gossip about, anything that might cause the room to buzz. Part of the fun, he guessed. But in truth Paxton hated the close scrutiny at these occasions even more than his sister.
Lydia looked at him sideways, and asked, “Who do you want to walk through the door?”
“This lady I met.” Paxton’s mind was elsewhere as he recalled the night at the theater. He searched the entry for a glimpse of her. Looking back at his sister, he realized he had spoken without thinking.
“And who, pray tell, is this lady and where did you meet her?” He knew his sister’s interest was piqued. Their dance ended and they moved out of the dancing area and back to Rebecca who was conversing with a group of young debutantes.
“I think I’ll excuse myself for a bit,” Paxton said in lieu of answering his sister’s question and quickly bowed to the women huddled together. “Ladies.” As he retreated, he heard a chorus of giggles and whispers. He headed into the game room, stopping to converse with many acquaintances along the way. He found the gentleman he was looking for at the whist table. “Well, if it isn’t Lord Geary.” Paxton slapped his friend on the back. “Are the cards being good to you tonight, Cole?”
Cole stood. “Deal me out,” he told the dealer, then scooped up his winnings and left the table. “The cards are like the ladies, Paxton. They are always good to me. I am surprised you showed up here. Did you bring your sister?”
“Yes. I told you I had to make up for last night somehow.”
Two ladies walked by and Cole bowed graciously. “I’ll take the one on the left.”
“You never quit. And you can have both of those ladies. I’m not interested.” They made their way out into the ballroom area and he surveyed the guests quickly. Where is she?
“Is something amiss? You